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How to Say ‘Please have a seat.’ in Japanese

どうぞ、おかけください。

douzo o kake kudasai

[doh-zoh oh KAH-keh kudasai]

🇯🇵 In Japan: In a Japanese interview, wait until you're offered a seat like this before sitting down. Then sit up straight with your bag beside your chair.

Phrase Breakdown

どうぞ、

douzo

please / go ahead

A polite word used when offering something. Say it as 'dōzo' with a long 'ō' sound.

Example

どうぞ、お入りください。

Please come in.

Words in this phrase

どうぞ

douzo

[doh-zoh]

please; go ahead

Staff say this to invite you to speak or proceed (e.g., “Go ahead with your order”). Customers can also say it when offering something.

Example

どうぞ、ご注文を。

Go ahead—your order, please.

おかけください。

o kake kudasai

please have a seat

A polite way to say 'please sit down', often heard at the start of interviews. Pronounce it 'o-ka-ke ku-da-sai'.

Example

こちらにおかけください。

Please have a seat here.

Words in this phrase

お

[oh]

honorific prefix

お adds politeness to certain words and expressions.

Example

チケットを二枚お願いします。

Two tickets, please.

かけ

kake

[KAH-keh]

sit (stem of kakeru, to sit down)

Stem of 掛ける meaning to take a seat; used with お~ください as a polite invitation to sit.

Example

椅子にかけてください。

Please sit on the chair.

ください

kudasai

[kudasai]

please (do)

Used to make a polite request.

Example

手伝ってください。

Please help me.

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